Become a top idol? The goal is to be number one in Japan? Is this joke a bit too much?! She only just finished her debut race!
Actually, it was worse than that. This was a plan Fujimaru Ritsuka had come up with before Oguri Cap even ran her debut. It was the absolute height of absurdity.
The trio, and even Bell Noon Bright, felt that Fujimaru Ritsuka was looking far too far ahead. Moreover, this wasn't the kind of thing one should say to Oguri Cap at a time like this; at the very least, shouldn't he wait until they reached the Central? Saying such things now was just high-pressure, wasn't it?
The four girls thought: Well, actually, we're the ones feeling nervous. Surprisingly, we don't feel much "pressure." But that must be because we're outsiders. Oguri/Oguri Cap/The Mud Rabbit must be so scared she doesn't know what to say, right?
The reality was quite the opposite. During their rehabilitation training, Fujimaru Ritsuka had already discovered the fact that Oguri Cap was a total airhead. When dealing with a girl like her, being secretive only led to problems; being completely honest was the correct approach.
Upon hearing Ritsuka's vision, Oguri Cap instinctively held her breath. Her deep blue eyes stared straight into his, as if trying to further confirm his thoughts, or perhaps she was simply so shocked that her brain had stalled and she wasn't thinking anything at all.
The air between everyone fell silent, making the onlookers incredibly anxious. They lost all sense of time; it felt like an eternity had passed, yet also as if only a split second had ticked by. This sensation was truly unbearable!
Just as the girls were about to reach their breaking point, Oguri Cap finally spoke: "To be honest, I didn't quite understand."
Oguri Cap: OxO
She wore a troubled expression, though it was unclear if it was because Ritsuka's English terminology was too obscure or if she was simply frustrated with her own lack of comprehension.
However, her expression quickly cleared, turning bright and cheerful.
"But, Horse Girls are both athletes and idols, right?" A simple equation formed in her mind. "If that's the case, then aiming to be a 'top idol' means becoming a top Horse Girl and striving to be number one in Japan."
Oguri Cap's gaze and tone became exceptionally firm. "Trainer, I'll do it! Whether it's the strongest Horse Girl in Japan or a 'Top Idol'—since we've stepped onto the track, our only goal is the championship. Isn't that only natural?"
Her face flushed slightly with excitement as she proactively reached out her hand to Ritsuka, responding to his earlier invitation.
"Huh?!" The trio gasped, each one louder than the last. Their faces practically screamed: You're shocked? Well, I'm even more shocked!
She didn't even understand it, she didn't know the gap between the Regional and Central circuits, and she had only just debuted—yet she was setting a goal so grand it was bordering on the ridiculous? This was madness!
The girls couldn't understand it. They had no idea why these two had suddenly reached such a resolve.
But it didn't matter. For Horse Girls, some things didn't need to be communicated through words; they could understand another's determination and thoughts through racing and running.
After making the decision, Oguri Cap wanted to increase her training volume, but Ritsuka vetoed the idea on the spot. He reminded her: "Oguri, you're still in your growing phase. Your current training volume is already at its limit. Increasing it would only have a negative impact on your growth. Remember, haste makes waste."
Oguri Cap didn't process the logic immediately, but she trusted Ritsuka's judgment and was more than happy to follow his decisions.
Thus, over the following two weeks, Oguri Cap decisively won a short-distance race and a mile race. The accumulated prize money pushed her right to the threshold of the "Pre-Graded" stakes.
During this time, her earnestness and hard work deeply moved the trio, leading them to exclaim, "As expected of Oguri Cap." They had officially become her die-hard fans.
Seeing the girl's life becoming better and better, Fujimaru Ritsuka was also happy for her. Then, July arrived, and the summer breeze brought the rhythm of an "away" expedition.
Wednesday, July 1, 1987. Ohi Racecourse, Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo.
"It feels... different," Oguri Cap murmured softly, earnestly performing her warm-up exercises while awaiting Ritsuka's advice.
There are fifteen regional racecourses across Japan, and only a few have turf tracks, creating a sharp contrast with the Central tracks.
As for these dirt tracks, some used river sand while others used local soil. The soil quality varied wildly from place to place, so it was only natural to feel a different texture underfoot.
"Oguri, you can't use the same explosive Kasamatsu running style here at Ohi. As for what you should do..." Ritsuka deliberately trailed off, adding jokingly, "Use your body to feel it out for yourself."
After all, a Horse Girl's own judgment and intellect affected the race results, so the athlete had to be engaged in every aspect.
Oguri Cap nodded seriously, showing no sign of impatience. "I understand. I'll do my best."
The more they worked together, the more Ritsuka felt that Oguri Cap was a dream to train. As long as it was a reasonable request aimed at winning, she would follow it to the letter and even adjust based on her own sensations. She was incredibly capable.
Fujimaru Ritsuka organized the data he had collected and began telling Oguri about her main opponent in Saturday's Tokyo Juvenile Cup.
"Epuranu." She had beautiful reddish-brown long hair, and her agile eyes were full of life. Everyone considered her an outstanding Horse Girl, and she had naturally taken the spot of the "First Favorite" for this race.
Of course, it might also be because she had a very famous senior in her family line, leading the audience to be highly optimistic about her potential.
But there was no need to say all that to Oguri Cap.
"Epuranu is a Horse Girl skilled in 'Runner' and 'Leader' tactics. Among the twelve girls in this race, her aptitude for the Runner style is the highest. It's highly likely she'll break away at the start and lead the pack all the way to the end."
The Tokyo Juvenile Cup was a 1,600-meter race, a very standard mile. However, the weather had been clear these past few days, so the track condition was bound to be "Firm."
Unlike turf tracks, a "Firm" dirt track is actually disadvantageous for Horse Girls who rely solely on speed. This is because such a track surface tends to disperse their strength, forcing them to use more power with every step. This causes them to consume more stamina during the race, giving others an opening.
And Oguri Cap happened to be the kind of Horse Girl who was excellent at finding openings.
As she listened, Oguri Cap's ears suddenly pricked up. She practically launched herself into a sprint to Ritsuka's side, shielding him behind her in a defensive stance. "Trainer, is this that E-Ep... E..."
Oguri "E-ed" for a while, but still couldn't manage to say the name.
Seeing her presence "exposed," a Horse Girl with smooth long hair wearing a red sailor suit revealed a gentle smile and greeted them openly.
"Yohallo! I'm Epuranu!"
"Just as I thought," Oguri Cap made a blank "口_口" face. "Trainer, leave this to me. You should retreat first."
It seemed Oguri Cap had mistaken the newcomer for an enemy and was preparing to complete an "Ikkitousen" achievement of a one-on-one duel.
But Fujimaru Ritsuka "betrayed" the girl's kind intentions. He reached out and touched Oguri Cap's ears, forcibly deactivating her combat mode.
"That joke isn't funny at all, Miss Maruzensky."
────────────────────────────────────────
Support me here: https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Musume: Oguri Cap Grand Order (60 Chapters – Ongoing)
Join the journey and become part of the story!
────────────────────────────────────────